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OTIS' HOIE, OF OAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOWE SPRING-BED COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COT-BEDSTEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,234, dated March 23, 1875; application filed November 11, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Oris Howe, of Oambridgeport, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cot-Bedsteads, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specilication In the said drawing, Figure lis a top view of a cot-bedstead provided with my invention, the same representing it as set up ready for use; and Fig. 2 alongitudinal, central, and vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 isa top view of the bedstead, showing the legs folded, and the article reduced to its most compact form, for storage or transportation; and Fig. 4, a longitudinal, vertical, and central section of the same.

My invention has reference to that class of cot-bedsteads whose legs are pivoted to the side bars thereof, so asl to enable the legs to be readily folded or turned into parallelism' with the side lars, for the purpose of rende.1` ing the device compact for storage or transportation; and my invention consists in combining with each leg and its brace a bent arm for controlling the action of the brace, whereby not only is the brace estopped and held in place when the leg is folded, but when the legs are extended or turned downward into a right angle to the frame, such arms serve to move down andguide or bring the entering or hooked ends of the braces into proximity with their sockets, and thereby enable the same to be inserted therein with great facility.

Heretofore, in the construction of bedsteads of this character, much difficulty has been experienced when the bedstead was packed, and required to be set up for use, in reaching the brace, and connecting it with the leg, (or rung connecting the legs.) In folding the legs, the braces being carried back by them were prevented from projecting beyond the top ol' the rails by leather straps, extending over the same and connected with the rails, and the transverse slatsupporting bars. Owing to the close proxilnity of the slats to the legs, when folded, the braces, when the legs were turned downward, so as to support the bedstead, were left unmoved, and in a difficult position to reach. To remedy this difficulty is the main object of my invention; a still further object being to so construct and apply a single device to each leg, that it shall not only perform the function of stopping and holding the brace when the leg is folded, but should also so act upon the brace, when the leg was turned downward, as to bring the hooked end of the brace into close proximity to its socket, or into a convenient position to be easily inserted therein.

In the said drawings, A A denote the side rails, and B B the end rails, of the bedstead C O, and O C are the. legs thereof, each pair of such being pivoted to the side bars in the ordinary manner, and connected by one or more rungs, D. E E E E are four metallic braces, which are made., by preference, of round wire, having each of its ends bent at a right angle to its body portion, and each of its bent ends standing at a right angle to the other. Each brace is connected with one of the side rails, so as to have a pivotal action, to enable it to be readily turned up or down, as circumstances may require. upper rung, (connecting each pair of legs,) and near the ends thereof, sockets are made to receive the outer or hooked ends b of the braces, when the bedstead is to be set up for use, as shown in Figs. l and 2. F is a dat metallic arm, which is securely affixed to each leg, the pivot securing the leg to the side rail, passing through the same. This arm extends transversely of the leg, and has its outer end bent inward, to form a shoulder, a, which, when the parts are in the position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, serves to prevent the brace from swinging out of place, and maintains it in a position to be readily acted on by the arm when the leg is moved downward.

Having described my invention, its operation is as follows:

If we suppose the parts to bein position,

Within the as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and We desire to reduce the bedstead to its most compact form, we have simply to remove the brace-hooks from their sockets in the rungs, and turn the legs into the position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. If the parts are in the position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. and We desire to set up the bedstead for use, by taking hold of the legs, and turning them down into a right angle with the side bars, the bent arms Will draw down the hooked ends of the braces, so as to enable them to be readily inserted in their sockets.

What I claim as my invention is In a cot-bedstead, substantially as described, the bent arms F, in combination with the braces E, and the legs of the bedstead, as and for the purpose set forth.

I n testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

O'IIS HOVVE. Witnesses:

F. P. HALE, F. C. HALE. 

